Wichita eagle., 1887-07-02
THAT SCHOOL BUILDING.

To the Editor Of the Eagle:
"That noble army Of martyrs" the board
of education, with all - frailties and fool
ishness, has not been given to rushing into
print. The public is able to recall several
articles and communications published with
in the last year which read as though they
were intended to make us smart: but / think
none can recall even one response, good
tempered or otherwise l am of the opinion
that this silence, which the proverb says is
golden, was not owing to the fact that the
members of the board belong to the order of
pachydermatic, which is thick-skinned, and
were therefore insensible to the effect of
ordinary missiles. On the other hand.
think we did rather choose to bear ''the ills
we have, than fly to others that we
know not Of" which new an
unknown ills might issue from
the vent of wordy var greatly to the
affection of ourselves and a peaceful COM
munity. Moreover, Mr.. Editor, l would
modestly affirm that this honorable board
possessed itself Of the benevolent intention
Of learning all it could from even hostile
criticism, strong in the determination to
''stick to the right"
But it now seems to me that there is a
widespread misapprehension of facts and
things relating to the business of the Board
of Education, and especially in reference to
''that school building, which should, if posi-
BILE, now be corrected. The board desires the
cooperation of the public, or at any rate its
thoughtful forbearance in the circumstances
which now embarrass it's attempt to provide
sufficient accommodations for public educa-
ton.
1t is within my personal knowledge that
the committee on buildings and
grounds have, several times both as COM
mittee and as individuals, been over the
parts Of the city now poorly supplied or en-
tirely unsupplied with school buildings.
Serious and protracted thought and study
have been given to the situation. The COM
mittee reported to the board three or four
months ago its unanimous judgment, that
there ought to be three additional school
buildings erected at once to supply the pres
ent and future school accommodations need
ed by the rapidly increasing city population.
Two of these buildings should be on the
eastern side of the city, several blocks east of
all the railroads, one and half mile south of
Douglas avenue, and the other the same dis
lance north. The third building should be
in the northern part of the city,
on or near the site now owned by
hn nRI xuI,nr - ~
house stands on North Lawrence avenue.
This report of the committee on buildings
and grounds the board approved. think
unanimously. There is urgent need for all
these buildings, as the crowds of children
thronging our schools next year will show.
But here a practical difficulty confronts
the board. By some unfortunate blunder or
oversight the legislature has left the statutes
OF Kansas in such shape that in cities of the
first-class the people can neither vote bonds
nor the board of education issue the same. I
am not a lawyer, and my opinion on this
question may not be worth much, but am
convinced the statutes do so stand. The
same judgment prevails throughout the
board. l think there is no member
who dissents. But we have also asked
legal advice, and among others from
our able city attorney, and he states
that as the statutes now stand the board of
education cannot raise money by the issue of
bonds for the purchase of sites or the erection
of school buildings. If there be any mistake
about this l am sure the board will be only
too glad to be corrected, for it would relieve
US of serious embarrassment which now
troubles us and may yet hurt the city in one
of its most important intere sts l have
dwelt upon this because 1 think it needs to be
understood, as it is not now understood.
The board then finds itself cut off entirely
from the usual means of raising money for
the erection of school houses What was to
be done: Three school houses needed, but
denied us. We turn to our treasury and we
fortunately find a crum, and only crumb of
comfort there From the sale of some
lots on North Main street which the board
and from some other sources we can probably
scrape together money to build one school
house. Now there's the rub. But one can
be built where three are needed. Where
shall that one be located is now the disturb
ing question. 1t should also be stated here
that there is money enough only to build
house, and scarcely that without using part
Of that to purchase site
Now l think give the unanimous opinion
of the board, at any rate OF those members
of the board who have studied the matter,
that the most urgent need for the new build
ing is east of the railroads, and it ought
therefore to be located there if possible.
Other parts of the city need school building.
but in this eastern part the need is
most urgent. l think there is no di-
vision in the board on this subject. But we
own no school site over there properly iocat-
ed If we were to take considerable part
of the scant funds we have available and
buy a site at the present prices Of property,
what would be the result! The result would
be just this The board would have site
and nothing more: we should have some va
cant lots From these neither that part Of
the city nor any other would get any school
accommodation. So far as school accommo-
dalton at present ard for some time to come
is concerned it would be dead investment.
We have tried to Negotiate for suitable
site, but thus far the board has been unable
to secure one without putting into it the
greater part of its available funds In
these circumstances we have felt constrained
to resolve TO build on North Law